2-4-2018

 Good Morning All,

           Philippians 4:6; “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

    Do you remember the song by Bobby McFerrin, “Don’t worry, Be happy”?  It was a clever little ditty that most of us hummed along with whether we want to admit it or not.  It gave you events in life but he told us to not worry about it; just be happy. 

                             In every life we have some trouble
                             When you worry you make it double
                                   Don't worry, be happy......

It was a ridiculous little song but it carried a word if truth; worry makes your trouble worse.  It is always funny when a pop song offers us some sound theological truth. 

    The Apostle Paul tells us that we should not be anxious about anything; in other words, don’t worry, be happy.  The difference is that our confidence is not based on some pie-in-the-sky fantasy; ours is based on the certainty of God’s promise.  God speaks to us through his Word and listens to us when we pray.  We are his children and God promises to lean in and listen closely when call on his name.  He invites us to climb into his lap and to be secure, safe in his arms.

    We live our lives with way too much worry.  Even when we think it is valid; much of what we worry about never occurs.  Often our life goes the way Mark Twain described it,” I am an old man and have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened.”   We can smile at this knowing that God’s grace makes it true.  Most of the things that we worry about, that keep us up at night, rarely happen.  Even if they do, God has promised to be there for us and to keep our faith safe.

    We will face trials and tribulations; a man’s life (and a woman’s) is full of sorrow.  We will see pain and sorrow; that is the sad consequence of sin.  Yet God gives us the strength to find our way through it and when we live in his lap, trusting in his mercy and the promise of the forgiveness of sins.  It is when we spend all of our time being anxious about life that we don’t really live the life that God gives to us.  God gives us each day and the chance to live that life in service to him, in making our requests to Him with our prayers of supplication.  God gives to us the gift of prayer to strengthen us and to weaken the devil.  Use this gift often.

Dear Father in heaven, we give you thanks for all your precious gifts.  We ask that you be with those who are suffering from pain and are anxious about the day.  Bring you’re your comfort and your peace.  Use us to be that comfort and to offer your consolation.  In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret